In this chapter we shall look at some of the simple ways we can adopt to a sustainable lifestyle.
If you want to “go Green”, you’re not expected to do everything to day, you can't suddenly transform your life 180. If you try to do that, most likely you’ll give up due to the overwhelming-ness of it all. Just make a few small changes in your daily life to begin to go green.
For example, recycling is a huge way to begin to go green and do your part to encourage re-usable resources. Instead of plastic, paper, aluminum and glass ending up in a landfill, it can be re purposed and used again. By recycling, you are “going Green”.
Another to go green is when your cleaning products run out, try to replace them with products that are “organic” or “chemically free”. When you use products containing harmful chemicals, the chemicals get washed down the drain and end up back in our water sources.
When you’re in the market for a new vehicle, look for one that is more fuel efficient. You don’t need to sell your existing car now to go green. Remember, small steps.
Here are some small steps you can follow:
- When your batteries run out, replace them with rechargeable batteries. The electrical energy is used and than the battery can be re-used after its charging.
- When your gas powered lawn mower gives out, look for an electric one.
- While shopping at the grocery store, bring your own canvas sacks instead of taking home their plastic bags.
- Shop at Farmer’s Markets. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
- Ride your bike instead of driving when you’re able.
- Turn off your tap water while brushing your teeth and turn off lights when they are not necessary.
- Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
- Unplug appliances when you’re not using them. Or, use a smart” power strip that senses when appliances are off.
- Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water. Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.
- Skip buying bottled water and purchase a re-usable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, to use and refill.
- Create a compost pile for use in your garden.
- Shop re-sale for clothing and use your local library to borrow books.
- Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
- Keep your cell phones, computers and other electronics as long as possible then donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes.
- The more you do online, the less you need paper. Think about if you can send emails instead of letters or if you need to print files or if you can save them on your computer
- One of the simplest ways to reduce energy consumption is to switch lights off when you leave a room. If it’s sunny outside open up the blinds and make the most of natural light instead.
- Reuse before recycle
- Both in services and offices make sure computers are switched off when you’re not using them rather than just leaving them on standby – you’d be amazed how much energy this saves!
- Bringing lunches to work in reusable containers is probably the greenest (and healthiest) way to eat at work. Buying lunches everyday almost inevitably ends up with a miniature mountain of packaging waste and is way more expensive than making your own too!
- Plant a simple backyard garden. It’s good to remember where our food originates, and it doesn’t have to be huge or complicated.
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